With handsome and utilitarian lines, along with a smart and attractive paint scheme, these turbo-charged GE, BB-axle units got a lot of publicity for units that had a short tenure on the New York, Susquehanna and Western. (They were sold to P&W in 2004, after only being with the NYSW since 1988.) Travelling to Syracuse and Binghamton for model train shows, I would always insist on watching some trains, sometimes dragging the family along. These units, along with any of the other NYSW fleet at the time, captured my imagination, and will always have a spot in my heart.
Starting off as a beautifully-executed Atlas Master Series decorated model, the stock model needed only minor tweaking and weathering to best represent the prototype.
One of the only details omitted from the model were ditch lights. I built custom stands for Details Associates lenses. The M.U. hose and receptacles were removed, and replaced with Details West plugs and single-stranded wire. The plow was re-countoured, and Kadee #58 couplers were added. Though Atlas considerately drilled holes and provided sun shades, they were absent on the prototype.
Lastly, the horn supplied did not match my photos of #4002. A Details West brass casting was used to replace the stock unit. One highlight of the GE units tends to be the myriad of cooling grills at the end of the long hood. Using some Grimy Black mixed with Railroad Tie Brown really invokes the illusion of depth and strikes a nice contrast with both the black and yellow.
Check out all those factory-supplied truck details! Sand lines, speed recorders and brake lines, all done! Weathering was done using chalks, dilute airbrush washes and dry-brushing. It was all sealed with Testors' Dullcoat. To finish off the model, I used MV lenses for all lights, including the distinctive red markers.
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